New Apron Discovery!

Lucky for me the woman at the Sabbatus Antique Mall recognized me when she came shopping at Fort Andross. And super lucky for me that, when she leanred on that chance visit that I make vintage-inspired aprons, she put aside a special apron she thought might interest me.

My husband and I are regular visitors at her antique market where there can be found a wonderful variety of vintage and antique goodies. We make the occasional foray further a field to check out other markets but always find that her market is the most fun and has items we would like (and do) buy, all at reasonable prices. I’ve bought vintage aprons from her in the past and have used one to recreate an apron that I currently sell.

Upon walking in her door on a recent rainy Sunday she saw us and immediately said, “I wondered when you’d be back. I have something for you!”  That was an intriguing way to begin our visit. She pulled out a paper bag and first extracted a pile of vintage fabric that turned out to be two unfinished basic aprons. The ties were made, the pieces cut out and they were ready for assembly. Tempting, very tempting. But what she showed me next was the most exciting: an old apron made in a style I’ve never seen before. When I held it in my hand it resembled a pile of fabric more than an apron but once I put it on I realized it’s great potential and one that is totally unlike the other aprons I make. This one should be adaptable to any adult body size because of its fundamental feature: it’s a wrap. Think mink stole (without the dead animal – faux mink stole, please) as if it was hung around the neck. Those two sections that hang down in front make up the apron! Ties on one section secure the apron to tie in the back and the two sections in front can be adjusted to fit just about anyone. Quite ingenious!

I’m calling it Wrap it Up! and if I had to venture a guess, I’d say the original is an apron from the 40’s or 50’s. I love this apron. It’ll be fun to see how it looks made with different fabrics and even more fun to see how people like it. I'd love to know what you think so please let me know.

Warp it Up!

 

A little bit longer....

Swirly and Rick Rack Aprons up for auction at mpbn.net

I am postponing the drawing for the Holiday Swirly Apron until after December 6th. The reason? I have two aprons up for auction on the MPBN Online Holiday Auction and hope to gather a few more people interested in my contest.

You can check things out on the MPBN auction website and consider bidding on my aprons or any other tempting offering, knowing your money will go towards helping to keep our public radio station alive and well. My aprons are featured third from the bottom, #2547.

And if you haven't entered my Holiday Swirly Apron Giveaway, please check it out and know that it will benefit the Good Shepherd Food-Bank by generating a dollar donation when you "Like" my facebook page and leave a comment.

Keep 'em coming!

Thank you new followers of Yo Momma's Apron Strings on facebook.

Because each new friend generates a donation to Maine's Good Shepherd Food-Bank I am doubly grateful. At $.25 a pop, it will take a long time to reach my goal of $100 so I'm upping the ante to $1.00 for each new friend who comments. I counting on reaching my goal so if everyone would be so kind as to share this post, it would give me a better chance of reaching that $100 benchmark.

The cost to friend Yo Momma's Apron Strings 

one comment on Yo Momma's Apron Strings facbook page (I need that comment to differentiate new friends from old)

The benefit

$1.00 donated to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank

The big payoff 

one person will win my Holiday Swirly Apron AND $100 goes towards feeding Maine's hungry this holiday season

Thank you for passing on this information to your facebook followers.

This apron could be yours!

Holiday Apron Giveaway

To help celebrate the coming holiday season I am offering this cheerful Swirly Apron, ready to partner in your holiday kitchen adventures. To be entered in the apron giveaway I ask that you go to Yo Momma’s Apron Strings on facebook, click to “Like” my page and then tell me about the holiday treat you look forward to making every year. Or, if you aren’t a holiday treat-maker, tell me about a favorite holiday goody you look forward to eating every year.

For each new friend of Yo Momma’s Apron Strings I will make a donation to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank, a Maine organization that strives to feed Maine’s hungry families. My plan is to donate $0.25 per new friend up to $100 in total. If, by chance, you are already a friend, tell me about your favorite holiday treat and you’re entered!

So, in two simple steps you can be entered in a chance to win this sweet Swirly:

   “Like” Yo Momma’s Apron Strings on facebook

    Tell me about your favorite holiday treat to either make or eat (or both)

Your entry will generate a donation to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank.

The winner will be announced on the Yo Momma’s Apron Strings facebook page on December 1^st. 

Stay tuned to learn who will be the lucky winner.

(It could be you!) 

Yo Momma's Apron Strings Aprons in Action!

Yo Momma's Apron Strings has made aprons for all ages, from wee walkers to those more seasoned.
What follows are some of my favorite apron models, in no particular order:

How cute is she? 

Never mind, I already know the answer.

My crazy cookin' daughter 

and designer/owner of Anne Bonny's Booty.

All right, I couldn't resist this image but their identities are kept secret 

(even though many already have an idea, a very good idea, of who these two topless chefs might be).

Happy Birthday!  

Now she has an apron in two states:

a summer Michigan apron and a winter Arizona apron.

Totally stylin' in the kitchen.

I would love more images of my aprons in action. 

Anyone want to send some to me?

I should Have field tested that apron!

I was excited about the new apron and rushed it out there after having only tried it on myself. One body shape and that was my mistake. I blogged about it, facebook-ed it and hung it out for sale for all to see.

"So, Zoe," I said excitedly, "try on my new apron.

"Ugh," she said having tried in vain to adjust the bodice to fit her smaller frame.

"But the fit is flexible. All you have to do is draw it up and the wide back will hold it in place so that it can fit any body size," I said desperately. I was beginning to sense that sinking feeling when I know something isn't right.

"I think you need to take this one back to the drawing board," she said kindly.

Ah, me. She was right. An apron with a distinct waistband and bodice will NOT fit any body style as I had so hoped. So that's why all the vintage aprons that have gathered skirts and bodices are sized! Well, any tried and true seamstress would have been able to tell me that obvious fact but I forged ahead thinking the one-sized medium would do it for all. After all, the skirt on the thing could wrap all the way around to the back ties, making that particular fit quite flexible. That bodice fit definitely was not.

So what happens to that new apron in my group of one-size fits all aprons? It becomes a half apron and can still fit anyone.

Tah-dah! (I hope.)

Yo Momma's Aprons & the Common Ground Country Fair??

 Well, I'm seriously thinking about it. 

We made our biennial pilgrimage to Unity this weekend to walk and walk, talk and talk and eat and eat. If any of my readers aren't familiar with the Common Ground Country Fair, I'll summarize in a few quick words: sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA, as it's more simply called) it’s "an event like no other, that brings together so many people from so many walks of life, all in the spirit of celebrating the rural and agricultural traditions of Maine.
Want to learn how a basket is created from log to finished product? You can see that here. What to see to yarn spun, rugs hooked, sheep sheared, solar water created, bees habitat(ed), sheep herded and on and on? You can see all of that here and more. It is a celebration of life and community and is an experience not to be missed. So, we don't miss it. You can get a taste of what it's all about by taking this Virtual Fair Tour.
Next year Zoe and I are thinking seriously about applying for next year's three-day event. There are many crafts people and small business owners exhibiting their goodies and I think my aprons and Zoe's jewelry a prefect fit. A few of my fellow Marketeers are already hard at it and feel it is an event quite worth the time, effort and exhaustion.
Any hesitation I feel is due to the fact that I will have to have a lot of aprons. Actually, more than a lot and the thought how to build a deep inventory of aprons while maintaining my market presence and craft fair participation is daunting. But right now I'm feeling like, "What the heck? Jump in and give it a try."
How to have enough aprons for some unknown percentage of the gazillions of people who will pass by our booth and will want to buy one? 

I need a plan. Gotta think about that.